Today I would like to officially announce my candidacy for this year’s Council Election held in October 2020 running for Cambridge Ward, City of Melton.
I am the Founder & Executive Secretary of Australian Integrated Fijian Association of Victoria Incorporated aka AIFAV. I have been living in Melbourne for the past 25 years. I pursued my professional career with the Australian Government and the local municipalities working for Supreme Court of Victoria, Department of Social Services, Department of Planning and Community Development, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Department of Justice and Public Advocate, Hume City Council and City of Melbourne for the last 15 years.
I am extremely passionate towards working with children with additional needs as I am a mother myself and have a child who suffers from mild cerebral palsy. I understand the frustration and struggles a parent undergoes and the day-to-day adversities to surmount. I have liaised with several disability organisations throughout my life who has assisted my family. Hence, my intention is to assist families through our Association who are not aware of such resources available to them. I embrace the knowledge obtained during my life experience and would like to continue my advocacy for people with disability and their families. This experience has led us in opening our own Social Enterprise Company called the Australian Integrated Care Services Pty Ltd aka AICS. AICS provides sensible services to the needs of individuals or groups in the disability and aged care sector.
I am the Event Manager for Ashayein Entertainment & Events Pty Ltd with a primary focus on providing platforms for our local talents and our people with disability. I believe that we can connect communities through their love for entertainment.
My central objective is to become the voice of new migrants, women, victims of domestic violence sufferers, youths, seniors, and other linguistic communities to live sustainably and in unity within the City of Melton. This would be the continuity of the services that I am voluntarily providing through AIFAV as the founder for the last 5 years.
I am the recipient of multiple awards acknowledged for my perseverance towards my community. This includes Winner of Access and Inclusion Leader of the Year 2019 awarded by the City of Melton. Recognition by Chief Justice Marilyn Warren, AC as ‘Outstanding Team Award’ by the Supreme Court of Victoria. I was also nominated in the Intercultural Engagement Leader of the Year 2019 by Melton City. As the founder of AIFAV, I am extremely honoured that our Association has been recognised by the Governor of Victoria, Prime Channel 7 awards, City of Melton, DHHS and Carers Victoria.
As a migrant living in Australia for the last 2 ½ decades through personal life experiences, voluntary community Association work, professional career, I have developed and grown significantly which has enabled me to understand the gaps in our community and the areas that needs to improve to create a better community.
During these unprecedented times through AIFAV I have been engaging with members of our community by hosting mental health webinars, dance therapy sessions, interactive sessions, distributing necessities to our seniors and people with disabilities, providing caregiving and financially supporting international students/seniors with urgent financial hardship.
Therefore, I have decided to run for the campaign, please support me by sharing this information to all your friends and families living in Melton Council and to Vote 1 for me if you believe I am the candidate of your choice.